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No. 625,074. P atented- May I6, I899;

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PLEkSUBE WHEEL.

iApplicafion filed Feb. 17, 1898.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FRIEDRICH WEBER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.'

PLEASURE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 625,074, dated May 1 6,1899; Application filed February l' 7, 1898- senate. 670,617. (Nomodel.)

T on whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, GEORGE FRIEDRICH WEBER, acitizen of the United States, residingin the city, county, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPleasure-VVheels, of which the following is a specification sufficientto enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to pleasure-wheels carrying coaches or seats forpassengers. heretofore used these have been arranged horizontally, as inthe well-known carousel, or Vertically, as in the Ferris wheel. Ineither case the view of the passenger has been obstructed more or lessby the wheel and other parts of the apparatus.

The main object of my invention is to atford an unobstructed view in onedirection for the passengers throughout the revolution of the wheel; andthe invention consists, es-

. sentially, in mounting the seats or coaches upon the upper side orface of an inclined rotatable wheel in such manner that they will retaintheir positions vertically by gravity while being carried around acommon center by the wheel. By this means I am enabled to afford a freeand unobstructed view from the face of the wheel irrespective of theparticular position of a seat or carriage thereon,- a feature ofespecial importance in cases where an unobstructed view in a certaindirection is desirable, as at the seaside, adjoinin g special featuresof scenery, or for the purpose of observing games or sports of any kind.

In carrying out my invention I do not wish to confine myself to theidentical form and construction of parts herein shown, since it isobvious that various modifications may be made therein Without departingfrom the spirit and intent of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate parts for carrying out myinvention in practical form, Figure l is a side elevation of an inclinedwheel upon which are pivotally suspended cars or coaches traveling uponsuitable platforms or supports on the face of the wheel; Fig. 2, anelevation ofthe face of the wheel shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectionalview of an antifriction-bearing suitable for use in carrying out myinvention. Fig. 4 is a View of the lower side of one of the seats myinvention.

or car-trucks; Fig. 5, a top view of one of the car-trucks. Fig. 6 is anelevation illustrating a modified arrangement of parts in which thepassenger-cars are suspended entirely from above and ride clear of thefaceot' the wheel. Fig. 7 is a diagram of a top of one of the cars usedin the arrangement shown in Fig. 6. end of one ofv the standards.

The wheel A maybe set at any desired angle of inclination as may befound most desirable to meet the requirements of special use. It mayconsist of any suitable framework secured to a hub B, turning upon ajournal or axis 0, secured by a flange or other device rigidly to apermanent base or support D upon a trestle 0r framework I or equivalentsupport. A circular groove or pulley K on the wheel receives thepropelling rope or belt L, which passes over suitable pulleysl to asuitable source of power M. It is ob vious that instead of rotating thewheel A by means of a belt or pulley, as indicated, it may be operatedthrough the medium of gear- Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the lowerwheels or other mechanical expedients Withv out departingfrom the spiritand intent of In like manner the antifriction-bearing shown, thoughdesirable, is not absolutely essential. As shown, antifrictionrollers Rare interposed between the hub B and the journal C, whileantifriction-balls S are interposed between the bearingplate II, on theupper end of the journal 0, and bearing-plate F, inserted in the cap E,attached to the hub B.

The cars Q are preferably mounted upon trucks P, suspended upon pivotsU, projecting upward from the face of the wheel. The lower ends of thetrucks are preferably provided with rollers T, which rest upon aplatform 0, preferably, although not necessarily, circular in form. Infact, the support 0 may consist of a circular rail or it maybe simply aflooring or facing upon the wheel A.

It will be seen that the cars are virtually suspended upon the f ulcrumsU, gravity causing thecars Q and trucks P to assume and maintain avertical position, the rollers T allowing the trucks and cars to adaptthemselves upon the supports 0 to the movement of the wheel A during itsrotation.

In lieu of suspending the cars Q upon the trucks T they may be suspendeddirectly upon standards P, the lower ends of which are flanged andinclosed in suitable caps or bearings, as indicated in Fig. 8, in suchman- .ner that the standards P are free to turn in said caps P so thatthe weight of the carsQ will maintain the standards P in theirprescribed position with relation to the wheel, irrespective of themotion of the latter. In this case it will be seen that the cars swingentirely clear of the face of the wheel A, but to all intents andpurposes afford all the advantages of freedom of View in a givendirection and maintenance by gravity in a vertical position during therotation of the wheel A.

It is to be understood that any number of seats or vehicles may bearranged upon or in conjunction with my inclined Wheel, also that thelatter may be supported peripherally upon rollers or may be providedperipherally with rollers resting upon semicircular Ways if it isdesired to modify or dispense with the central pivotal support.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of an inclined rotatable Wheel and a vertical carsupported upon a f ul-' 7 crum projecting at right angles from the faceof said Wheel, substantially in the manner and for the purposedescribed.

2. The combination, with an inclined rota table wheel, of a car andtruck, the latter pivotally suspended upon the face of the wheelandprovided with rollers for supporting the truck and car, inconjunction with the pivoted support upon the face of the wheel,substantiallyin the manner and for the purpose described.

3. The combination With-an inclined rotatable wheel A, provided on itsface with the Ways 0, of the truck P, pivotally suspended at U, andprovided with the rollers T, and the car Q, the whole arranged andoperating substantiallyin the manner and for the purpose described.

GEORGE FRIEDRICH WE BER.

Witnesses:

D. W. GARDNER, GEO. WM. MIA'rT.

